Antiskid device



Patented Feb. 8, 1938 UNITED STATES ANTISKID DEVICE Frederick A.Olmstead, Cleveland Heights, Ohio,

assignor to The Hodell Chain Company, a corporation of Ohio ApplicationApril 16, 1934, Serial No. 720,678

13 Claims.

This invention relates to clamping means and more particularly to means.for clamping an antiskid device on the tire of a vehicle.

An object of the invention is to provide a clamping device which ischeap to construct and both simple and efficient in its operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide my improved clamp incombination with a device adapted to retain chains or other flexibletraction members in position about the tire of a vehicle, primarily fortemporary use in extricating the vehicle from places where traction ispoor, although the device may be used more or less permanently, asdesired.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from theaccompanying description together with the drawing and the essentialfeatures will be summarized in the claims.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a plan view of my clamping device incombination with an antiskid chain for use on automobile tires; Fig. 2is a sectional view along the line -2 of Fig. l, with the strap securedin position; Fig. 3 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2 before theclamping lever is moved to its gripping position; Fig i is a sectionalview along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; while Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are views of amodification, Figs. 6 and 7 being sections along lines 6-6 and 7-1 ofFig. 5.

Flexible traction members of the type illustrated are sold to the publicin place of more cumbersome and expensive devices. They provide anarticle which makes a selling appeal because of its relative cheapnessand ease in handling. However, such attributes are worthless ifthedeviceis not dependable, for a vehicle user places traction deviceson the vehicle wheels only because an emergency has arisen. His

safety, even his life, may depend on the traction devices remaining inplace and properly performing their function. The improved device heredisclosed is therefore constructed with these points in mind. It ischeap to construct; it is easy to apply to a vehicle wheel; and finallyit is clamped in position so that it cannot accidentally becomeloosened, so asto fulfill its function as a safety device. My inventioncomprises in general a flexible traction member havingv a strap securedto one end and clamping means for the strap secured to its other end.The clamping means comprises a body member, a clamping lever p-ivotallysupported on the body member, the clamping lever and body member beingarranged that a gripping edge portion of the lever is adapted to bepressed into and embedded in the strap when the lever is moved towardthe body member. In this position the free end of the lever preferablylies closely adjacent the body member. The free end of the strap is thenbent along the outer face of the lever and beneath portions of the bodymember formed to hold the strap against the lever in retaining position.Thus, while the strap is neatly folded and held in confined position, italso holds or locks the lever in clamping position.

While my clamping means is adapted to various uses, it is particularlyadapted for use in connection with a tire chain or other traction membersuch as is ordinarily clamped temporarily about the tire of anautomobile to extricate the vehicle from a position where traction ispoor, or for general non-skid use. To this end the buckle or clampingmember I0 is attached to one or more traction members, such as cross 20chains II, to the other end of which a strapfastening member I2 isattached, the Whole assembly being placed about a vehicle tire and thestrap I 3 passed about the rim between the spokes and secured to theclamp 10.

The novel features of my invention are more particularly associated withthe clamping member 10. The body member is essentially a flat plate I4,slotted as at IE to receive the end of the strap. Along one side of theslot is a flange or shoulder I6 formed in any desired manner butpreferably from the portion of the body member cut from the metal toform the opening l5. On the same face of the body member as the shoulderbut on the opposite side of the slot a 35 clamping lever I l is mountedon pivots I8, which are spaced from the body member and located along aline substantially parallel to the edge of slot 15 opposite theshoulder. The pivotal supports for the clamping lever are preferablyformed by bending up ears H] from the metal of the body.

The lever I 1 is preferably a flat, rigid member with a gripping edgeportion 20 on one side of the pivotal supports, the said gripping edgebeing substantially the full width of the strap or wider. The free endof the lever is held in the position of Fig. 3 while the strap is beinginserted through the slotted opening and is thereafter moved to aposition normal to the strap and then slightly beyond the normal to theclamping position of Fig. 2, from which it will be noted that, inclamping position, the gripping edge 23 of the lever is spaced from thebody member a greater distance than the pivots l8 so that a pull upon,thestrap in the direction of the arrow tends to clamp the strap moresecurely in position.

With the lever thus clamped, the strap is now folded along the outerface of the lever and is led to a position against the free end of thelever beneath portions ii of the body member. These portions arepreferably projections struck up from the metal of the body with theends spaced apart a distance sufficient for the lever I! to pass betweenthem, as indicated in Fig. 4. These members also have, at their outerends, portions 22 adapted to overlie the edges only of the strap. Whenthe free end of the strap is passed between lever IT and the projectingclamp portions 22, the lever is positively secured against release untilthe strap has been first removed. To this end the strap it, while madeof material sufiiciently flexible longitudinally to permit itsmanipulation in the manner described, is nevertheless thick andsuificiently stiff transversely to prevent the strap being easily foldedand lifted upward when in the position of Fig. 4, or in other words, thetransverse stiffness of the strap and the spacing of the projections 22is so arranged that the strap can only be removed longitudinally. Thiseffectually prevents accidental loosening of the clarnp by striking anobjector by continuous jarring.

With the antiskid device clamped in position as thus described, itsometimes happens that the free end of the strap is of sufficient lengthto be troublesome if left loose. To further secure the loose end of thestrap I may provide other clamping portions 2:5 located between the endsof the clamping lever and spaced above the body member sufficiently topermit the strap to be folded back upon itself, as shown in Fig. 2, sothat the clamping portions 24 retain a double thickness of the strapbeneath them. These clamping portions 24 are easily struck up from themetal of the body member and may beformed integral with the ear portions59, as shown. The portions 24 may be bent away from the gripping edgeand toward the free end of the lever as shown at 25, Fig. 1, wheredesirable to provide a stronger lever section near the pivot supports.

The modification illustrated in Figs. 5 to '7 includes severaladditional features which may be made a part of my device. For instancethe shoulder l6 may be dispensed with and a portion 26 of the bodymember lying along one edge of the slot may be arranged to coact with agrip ping part of the locking lever, it being sufficient to providecoacting parts adapted to embed a portion ofthe lever in the strap asthe lever is moved toward locking position.

These views also illustrate another construction adapted to hold theotherwise loose end of the strap, to wit, projections 21 on the leverIll which perform the functions of the ear portions previouslydescribed.

In the modification of Figs. 5 to '7 the lever in clamping position maybe substantially normal to the strap at its clamped point incontradistinction to the form already described where the gripping endof the lever moves past the normal into clamping position, but such aform is satisfactory where the gripping edge is sufficiently embedded inthe strap.

While I have indicated that the various portions connected with the bodymember may be easily struck up from the metal thereof, it will beunderstood that similar portions could be formed by casting. welding orotherwise. However, in the form shown the clamping device Comprises buttwo pieces, namely, the body member with its various openings andprojections, as described, and the clamping lever formed as shown withthe pivot members stamped out integral therewith. The device istherefore very cheaply constructed and, as described, is very easilyclamped and unclamped in use, yet it is dependable as a safety device. i

What I claim is: a

1. In a buckle of the character described, a frame having a base forreceiving and supporting a strap, a cam lever pivoted to the frame forclamping and releasing the strap as the lever is rocked in reversedirections, the end portion of the strap being folded upon itself intotwo superposed layers both lying along the outer face of the lever whilethe latter is in its clamping position, and means for confining saidlayers of the lever in their position over the strap to lock the leverin its clamping position and prevent escape of the strap.

2. In a buckle of the character described, a frame provided with a strapsupporting base and with laterally spaced lugs, a cam lever pivoted onthe frame and movable through the space between the lugs toward and fromthe base for clamping and releasing the strap as the lever is rocked inreverse directions, the free end of the clamped strap being insertedunder the lugs and along the outer face of the lever when the latter isin its clamping position for holding said lever in that position, andsaid lugs being spaced from the base a suiiicient distance to receivebeneath them two thicknesses of the strap, the strap end being foldedupon itself into two superposed layers both of which are confined bysaid lugs.

3. In a buckle of the character described, a frame having a base forreceiving and supporting a strap member, strap clamping means secured tosaid base and including an operating lever having strap release andstrap clamping positions, means for securing a portion of the strap inposition over the lever to lock the same in clamping position, andadditional means for securing the free end of the strap in a positionfolded back over an adjacent portion thereof.

4. In a buckle of the character described, a frame having a base forreceiving and supporting a strap member, strap clamping means secured tosaid base and including an operating lever having strap release andstrap clamping positions, a set of primary lugs lying above and therebysecuring a first portion of the strap in position over the lever to lockthe same in clamping position,

and a set of secondary lugs lying above and therei,

by securing the free end of the strap in a position folded back over thefirst portion thereof.

5. In a buckle of the character described, a frame having a base forreceiving and supporting a strap member, strap clamping means secured tosaid base and including an operating lever having strap release andstrap clamping positions, a set of primary lugs lying above and therebysecuring a first portion of the strap in position over the lever to lockthe same in clamping position, and a set of secondary lugs lying aboveand thereby securing the free end of the strap in a position folded backover the first portion thereof, one set of said lugs being attached tothe base and the other set of said lugs being attached to the lever.

6. In a buckle of the character described, a base plate having a strapreceiving slot one edge portion of which is bent out of the plane of theplate, a plate form two-armed lever pivoted to the base on an axisspaced from the base, said lever having one edge lying opposite to andin clamp- Cal ing relation with the bent edge of the base plate when thelever is parallel with the base plate and the clamping edge of saidlever moving toward the base as the lever moves toward release position,and means for confining the free end of the strap over the lever whenthe latter is in strap clamping position.

7. In a buckle of the character described, a base plate having a strapreceiving slot one edge portion of which is bent out of the plane of theplate, a plate form two-armed lever pivoted to the base on an axisspaced from the base, said lever having one edge lying opposite to andin clamping relation with the bent edge of the base plate when the leveris parallel with the base plate and the clamping edge of said levermoving toward the base as the lever moves toward release position, meanson the base plate for securing a first portion of the strap in aposition overlying the lever when said lever is in clamping position,and additional means for confining a returned end portion of the strapover the first portion thereof.

8. In a buckle of the character described, a base plate having a strapreceiving slot one edge portion of which is bent out of the plane of theplate, a plate formtwo-armed lever pivoted to the base with one edgelying opposite to and in clamping relation with the bent edge of thebase plate when the lever is parallel with the base plate, the pivotalaxis of said lever being spaced from the base plate and two sets oflugs, one mounted on the base plate and the other on the lever, forrespectively confining beneath them two superposed portions of thestrap, said two portions of the strap lying over the lever and therebylocking the same in clamping position.

9. A strap securing device comprising a base having a slot thereindesigned to receive said strap, a hook member formed on said base memberadjacent said slot, and a pivoted lever for gripping said strap andclamping it against a side of said slot and said hook member.

10. A strap securing device comprising a base providing two spacedgripping parts, a mevable member operably associated with saidbas forgripping and forcing a portion of said;st rspinto gripping engagementwith said two spaced gripping parts of said base, said member b ingoperable to produce at least one bend in sai strap.

11. The device defined in claim 10, wherein another portion of saidstrap is operable to retain said member in gripping position.

12. In a strap securing device, a base having a slot therein, means,forming a wall of said slot, for gripping said strap, a lever carried onsaid base and designed to grip said strap, a second member on said basedesigned to cooperate with one end of said lever to grip said strap, anda final gripping member on said base designed to secure the free end ofsaid strap and retain it in contact with the other end of said lever tomaintain the lever in locking position,

13. Strap securing and tightening means comprising a member having astrap-receiving slot, means overlying said slot designed to guide saidstrap while tightening the strap, a second member designed to grip saidstrap between said slot and said guide and clamp said strap between saidsecond member and said guide, a staple secured to said first mentionedmember and a loop formed in the end of said strap by bending the strapupon itself, said loop being disposed beneath said staple and in contactwith said second member to thereby retain said loop and secure saidsecond member in gripping position.

FREDERICK A. OLMSTEAD.

